b or bucket, that some friends of his have placed on a tree
for his accommodation, in their garden or yard, after making a hole or
door by which he may enter.

But, dear me! what is his indignation, when he finds that a family of
saucy sparrows, going upon the old maxim of "might makes right," have
taken up their abode in his house, without so much as saying, "By your
leave"!

"Quit this!" cries the starling in tones that cannot be mistaken.

"Go away, you black rogue!" cries the sparrow. "I shall not quit this
nice house for you."

But the starling has a sharp bill, and he hits the poor sparrow with it.
Sparrow calls him all the hard names he can think of, and summons the
whole sparrow community to his assistance against the mean fellow who
has come to deprive him of his home.

The cries grow louder and wilder. Such an uproar of sparrows as there is
before the door! At last comes Madam Starling flying to the rescue; and
then the battle is quickly decided. The sparrows are driven off, and the
starlings remain in full possession.

[Illustration]

Madam Starling looks about with her clear, bright little eyes, and sees
that the troublesome sparrows have all gone away; and her faithful mate
lights on the topmost bough of a tree near by, and pours forth a song of
rejoicing and of triumph.

But soon the wind blows cold from the north. Ah! old Winter comes back a
moment or two just to see what Spring is about. The flakes descend on
their black coats; and the starlings come out from their little house,
and look about to see what's the matter.

Have they made a mistake? Oh, no! Soon the sun will be out. April has
come, and the snow will not last long. They first go to work, and clean
their little house, pitching out all the rubbish the sparrows have left
there.

Straw, feathers, and hay must now be got for a nice fresh nest. This
they soon make; and one day Madam Starling shows her mate five or six
clear blue eggs in the nest. For nearly sixteen days she must sit
brooding on these eggs; and then--what joy!--half a dozen bright little
starlings make their appearance.

But, dear me, how hungry they are! Father and mother have just as much
as they can do to feed them. The little ones seem to be crying all the
time for "more, more!" Will they never get enough?

In a few weeks the children grow so strong and sleek, that Papa Starling
says to them, "Now, boys and girls, you must learn to fly, and get your
own living. C